Illuminating instrument.



H. T. MARTIN & J. F. GOLDEN.

ILLUMINATING INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 27, 1909.

Patented Jan. 10, 1911.

f VVE/YTORJ b2? BY I? WITNESSES- ATTORNEY.

HOWARD T. MARTIN AND JAMES F. GOLDEN, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

ILLUMINATING INSTRUMENT.

se ner.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 10, 1911.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that we, HOWARD T. MARTIN and JAMES F. GOLDEN, citizens of the United States, residing in the city of Baltimore and State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Illuminating Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is an electric lamp or illuininator particularly adapted and intended for dental or surgical use in inspecting the interior of the mouth, throat and other cavities of the body.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved sanitary device for the purpose stated, a special feature being that the, point or front end of the article, including the lamp, is inclosed or covered by a glass tube, so that it can be readily sterilized or cleaned after use. In connection with. the glass tube at the front end of the instrument, a rubber orcomposition cover is employed, whereby all the conducting parts are perfectly insulated, so that there is no possibility of shock to the parts being examined, the rubber case or cover forminga convenient handle.

A further feature of novelty is a sliding sleeve switch and contact, by means of which the. circuit can be opened or closed, the switch being conveniently located for manipulation' by the thumb of a hand in which the instrument is held.

Further details of novelty will appear from the following description.

In the accompanying drawings-Figure 1 is a plan view of the device. Fig. 2 is an en:

largedlongitudinal section. Fig. 3 is a detail in section showing the slide switch. Fig. 4 is a detail in plan showing the contacts with the lamp socket. 4 Referring specifically to the drawings, the handle part of the casing of the instrument consists of two tubular sections 6 and '7, made of hard rubber or other composition, and these sections are united by a threaded joint at 8. The casing of the front part of the instrument consists of a glass tube 9, closed at its front end, and held within the casing section Gin which itfits, the rear endof thetube' being expanded or beaded as at 10, with a packing ring 11 located between the bead or rim and a shoulder 12 in the tube 6. In case? of breakage of the tube it can be quickly renewed'by unscrewing part 6 and slipping the tube out rearwardly, permitting the insertion of a new one in its place. \Vithin the casing thus formed is a metal tube 13, having near its rear end an external shoulder 14 which rests against the shoulder 15 at the front end of the handle section 7, and when the handle sections are screwed together the tube is held in place by engagement of the flange 11 between the end 15 of the section 7 and the rear end of the glass tube 9, a packing ring 16 being interposed between the flange and the end of the glass. tube. At the front end the metal tube 13 has a tongue 17 which rests against the sleeve or outer contact 18'of the lamp base which carries the incandescent lamp 1!). WVithin the. tube 13 is an insulating tube 20, the front end of which fits against the rear end of the lamp socket and the rear end of which rests against the' front end of an insulating block 21. This insulating block is located within the handle of the instrument, and its is threaded at its front end to screw into the rear end of the metaltube 13, as indicated at A metal sleeve 23 is screwed onto the rear end of the insulating block 21, said sleeve being reduced as at 21 to form an annular space for the sleeve switch 25 which may be slid back and forth toelectrically connect or disconnect the sleeve 23 and the tube 13, the adjacent ends of saidparts being separated and insulated from each other by a rib 26 on the insulating block 21. The sleeve switch has a stem "27 which projects through a slot 28 in the handle casing and is provided with a finger piece 29 to which the thumb of the operator may be applied.

Onebattery terminal 30 is connected as at 31 tothe sleeve 23. The other battery terminal .39. is connected as at 33 to a metal rod 34' which extends througha central ,bore 35 in the insulating block 21, and beyond the same is joined to an enlarged metal rod 36 which is .located in the insulating tube 20 and the front end of which-forms a con- -'tact with the inner conductor 37 of the lamp socket, said conductor. 37 being connected ,to one end of the 'filam'ent and the other outer conductor 18 to the other end, ina known manner. A spring 38 is coiled around'the rod 34 between thefront end of the block 21 and the shoulder 39 at the rear 1 end of the rod 36, said spring being in com of the socket, the ,parts being. forced forconducting tube within the caslng and an nner sp r1ng+pressed conductin member, lo- ;cated wlthin the tube. behind t e lamp and ward when the handle section 7 is screwed intothe handle section 6, the front end of the lamp pressing against the closed end of the outer tube To light the lamp, the sleeve switch 25 is pushed forward until it laps the ends of the Sleeve 23 and tube 13, as shown in Fig. .2, the circuit then being from the wire 30 through the sleeve 23, switch 25, tube 13, tongue 17, sleeve or casing 18, filament 19' and back through .the central pin 37 rods 36 and 34 to wire 32. To open the circuit, the switch 25 is slid back out of contact with the tube 13. i I A An advantageous feature of the device is the facility-with which the parts may be assembled or disassembled. By'unscrewing the handle sections 6 and- 7 all the inner parts may be dropped out without the removal ofany other fastenings, andwhen the parts are .in place and the handle sections are screwed together the former will all be forced forwardly and held in proper relation to each other. The front end of the'rod 36 is preferably pointed as at 40, to entera. corresponding depression in the base of the lamp socket, whereby it will center itself and-also hold the lamp socket in pro er position the frbnt end of the socket ein as stated centered and held by pressure OI its bulb into the closed .end of theouter tube.

What we claim as new is 1. In an illuminating instrument, the combination of a casing having-a closed glass tube at the front end, an electric lamp with a bulb resting against the closed end of the tube, and conducting connections located withinsthe casing and pressingiagainst' the lamp to hold thesame in position in the tube.

2. In an illuminating instrument, the combinatlon of a casing having a closed glass tube at the front end, an electric lamp with a bulb resti ngagainst the closed end of the tube, and ,conducting connections located within the casing and including a rod ressing against the base of the lamp to ho d the same in position in the tube. 3. In an illuminating instrument, the combination of a tubular casing closed and transparent at the front end, an electric lamp in the front end of the casing, an outer pressingagainst the same to hold it infp'ositlon. i Y 4. In an illuminating instrument, the combination of a tubular casing, closed and transparent at the front end, and providing a handle at the rear end made in separable sections, an electric lamp in the front end of the casing, and conducting members 16- cated in the casing behind the lamp and bearing against the same to hold it in position, said members being held in position by the handle sections and advanced against the lamp when the sections are united.

conducting tube located in the casing and connected to the lamp and'clamped between said members when they are united, and another conductor connected to the lam and located within said tube and insulated t erefrom.

6. In an illuminating -instrument,'the combination of a casing having a closed lass tube at the front end, an electric lam aving a base, and a bulb resting against-t e end of the tube, a central conductor rod bearing yieldingly against the rear end of the base, means at the rear end of the casing to advance the rod against said base, to hold the lamp in position, and another conductor connected to the lamp and extendingin the casing. Z a

7. In an illuminating instrument, the combination of a .casing comprising a handle consisting of two tubular sectioiTs' s'erewed together, 'aforwardly-projecting glass tube the rear end of whichwis clamped between said sections when they are united, and a lamp and conductors located within said casing.

8. In anillunnnating instrument, the comclamped between said shoulders when thesections are united, and a lamp'a'nd conduct- -1ng connections in the casing.

'bination of a,casing having a handle con- 9. In an illuminating instrument, the combination of an outer casing transparent at the front endand formed at the rear endof sections screwed together and providedwith shoulders on the inside, a conductlng tube with an external flange, located within theqcasing, the flange belng' clamped between the shoulders when the sections are screwed, together, an electric lamp at the front end of the casing, and an insulated conductor within said tube.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

\ HOWARD T. MARTIN.

JAMES F. GOLDEN. Witnesses:

.NVILLIA F. HAYES,"

ANNIE M. MARTIN. 

